The kit was packed well, each tube was nicely wrapped in bubble wrap and the components were neatly packaged in small zipped baggies. Took about 4 hrs to assemble. Very easy to navigate the menu and set time. The end result looks really good! Thank you to Rob a great product!

Aaron | March 17, 2021

This is my second one!

For MSP430 Nixie Clock kit

So the first one died a mysterious electronic death that I couldn't sort out. As that was a version 3 model, it didn't have some of the new features the current (v5) model has, namely the battery. So that made buying a second a no brainer for me.

Visually it's a really interesting clock by showing the PCB and components along with the Nixie's themselves.

Now I personally loved it with the basic acrylic panels, but I decided this time to go nuts and design a new one that uses 3D printed parts with custom acrylic panels. It turned out well enough that it even gets to live upstairs with the day walkers (https://www.prusaprinters.org/prints/53392-msp430-nixie-clock-enclosure).

Andy | March 14, 2021

Fantastic quality, great value

For MSP430 Nixie Clock kit

Has been running continuously for about two years now. A beautiful piece of hardware. Would love a few more to be honest

Wayne | Feb. 2, 2021

Great Project

For MSP430 Nixie Clock kit

For those interested in Nixie technology, you'll this project to be straight forward and quite educational. With great documentation, the electronics enthusiast will have no problem completing this kit. I bought two.

John | March 4, 2020

Great Value!

For MSP430 Nixie Clock kit

I am building a series of clock kits for my collection and this Nixie Tube kit was a perfect addition. I finished it in about 5 hours yesterday with the help of a tutorial by 12voltvids on YouTube. Fired right up as soon as I plugged it in. This kit is fairly easy to solder together but not for novices. Make sure to go over all the documentation provided - I didn't find the complete assembly instructions until after I finished... Ha! Overall a very nice kit at a fantastic price.

Response from RobG | March 4, 2020

Glad you like it!

Drew | Jan. 21, 2020

Fantastic!

For PixelFlood 20W RGB flood light (WS2811 pixel)

These boards are excellently constructed, and very simple to build into a functional WS2811 RGB Flood light. All the info you need to build them is either on the tindie page, or stenciled onto the board itself so no paper doc's are needed. I was able to build 3 floods in under 2 hours. These will make an awesome addition to the outside of my house year round, not to mention my holiday light shows!

Response from RobG | Jan. 21, 2020

I am glad you like them! I have a mix of 10W/20W/50W floods lighting my house all year round and just change colors for each occasion. Greens for St. Patrick's, red, white, and blue for 4th of July, oranges for fall, etc. Enjoy!

Gary | Jan. 5, 2020

Excellent kit!

For MSP430 Nixie Clock kit

The kit was shipped promptly and arrived packed safely.

I assembled the kit in about 6 hours over 2 days and was thrilled with the result.

I’ve wanted to build a Nixie tube clock for a while now but was put off by the cost of most kits/tubes. This was an affordable kit with much larger digits than I would have expected.

Ross | July 14, 2019

Great Kit. Nixie Rules!

For MSP430 Nixie Clock kit

Made this kit over two days. The instructions were pretty straightforward. There’s a lot of parts so I took my time and double checked everything as I went along. It fired right up for me with no problems at all. The Nixie tubes glow with a nice warm color and the blue backlighting gives it a nice retro edge. My recommendation would be to buy the acrylic covers as this thing runs at pretty high voltages. Probably would really hurt to be zapped. To summarize, I would recommend this kit and look forwards to other projects by RobG.

Robert | June 26, 2019

Best and best kit EVER!

For MSP430 Nixie Clock kit

Update 20201/11/27:

STILL GOING STRONG!

I don't even know how long I've had this one at this point! I got one for my dad and put it together in less than 2hrs the second time around! Mine I dropped on carpet and just now years later I had to use contact cleaner on one of the pens I bent and crip it a little tighter and WALA!

Original post:

My first ever kit and real solder job ever! ... maybe not the best idea but I got massive help along the way THANKS JAY! Jay was able to take a oscilloscope and show me lots of cool stuff. It ended up being one of my bad solder joints on a 560ohm resistor. I also like to thank RobG for the kit !

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/msp430-nixie-tube-clock-robert-mccurdy/

Stewart | May 6, 2019

Awesome Nixie Clock and Awesome Seller

For MSP430 Nixie Clock kit

First off, this seller, Rob G, deserves an award. Not only does he provide an excellent product (and documentation) in the form of this nixie clock, but he also provides great communication and support. I accidentally ordered my clock kit without the protective plates and only realized my error a few days later. I emailed the seller asking if my order could be modified to include the plates. He obliged and my order arrived with the plates.

The documentation is fantastic, setting clear expectations and instructions for how to build your Nixie Clock. The seller has clearly put in an enormous amount of work to provide this great product. Worth every penny.

Richard | March 26, 2019

Beautiful Kit

For MSP430 Nixie Clock kit

I've wanted a Nixie clock for years, and had my eye on this one for several months. It exceeded my expectations.

Shipping: The kit shipped a 10 days after I placed the order, but this delay was communicated by the seller in his product description. The components were securely packaged and arrived in perfect condition.

Documentation: The online documentation is thorough. I've built several smaller through-hole component boards and had no trouble completing this. The identification of the diodes was a little tricky - I had to use a magnifying glass to ensure I was picking the correct one. In addition, 12voltvids has a detailed build video on youtube that was helpful: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zny6fhF7g9g

Communication: I contacted the seller several times after ordering. His replys were prompt and curtious.

Overall: Good communication, good documentation, smooth build, and the end product is an attractive working nixie tube clock for well under $100. A+

Eric | March 25, 2019

Great nixie tube clock kit!

For MSP430 Nixie Clock kit

I really enjoyed building this kit. I completed it in a few hours on a rainy Sunday afternoon. The documentation was well written and easy to follow. The most difficult part was reading the tiny markings on two of the diodes. The circuit board and other parts were very high quality. I didn't have a 9-12V power supply but I had a 14V 1.2A supply that worked just fine to test it. The plexiglass enclosure was nice as well and makes for a nice display to show off the entire circuit. Finally, the price is very reasonable which explains why Rob can't keep these kits in stock.

If I make any change, I might replace the blue LEDs with some "purple" UV LEDs to give the nixie tubes more of a purple "ionized gas tube glow" which is more natural to me than the obnoxious blue light.

Neal | March 24, 2019

How long did this take you to design?

For MSP430 Nixie Clock kit

I enjoyed this kit so much! The PCB is very clean and well laid out. How long did this take you to design?

Response from RobG | March 25, 2019

It was a process :) First design was done in Sept 2014. You can see the progress on 43oh.com. Cheers!

Stewart | March 22, 2019

Great project

For MSP430 Nixie Clock kit

Enjoyed putting it together; instructions were clear and well illustrated. My only comments would be maybe making the firmware open-source, and maybe using a different coin cell holder; the current one stick out pretty far from the PCB.

Response from RobG | March 23, 2019

Thank you for the review.
Clock's firmware is open-source and is available on 43oh.com's forum.
Vertical holder was used to save space, I figured height is not an issue since Nixie tubes are even higher :)

Michael | Feb. 2, 2019

Fun build, really cool finished product!

For MSP430 Nixie Clock kit

Everything about this kit is well done. The board itself is beautifully laid out, and including the close-up photos of all the components to help in identification is a nice touch. I may put it in a different enclosure of some sort to keep dust out, but straightforward assembly and great finished product! Did not need to contact the seller.

Jason | Dec. 21, 2018

Great kit that looks good and is fun to put together.

For MSP430 Nixie Clock kit

The PCB is very clean and well laid out. It looks wonderful assembled.

The clock works wonderfully, makes almost no noise,and does not get warm at all.

Everything arrived very well packaged and the instructions were fantastic. There are a lot of parts and a lot of solder joints so set aside some time to finish this project if you want to do it all in one sitting.

Steve | Dec. 16, 2018

Might be my favorite build ever.

For MSP430 Nixie Clock kit

I had a blast putting together this kit. Having never soldered nixies nor neon tubes before, I was really looking forward to receiving the shipment and getting started. Everything went in without a hitch. I tend to be one of those people who likes to make sure beyond any doubt that I'm doing everything correctly before I put tip to solder, so I would have loved photographs of every part. If you like working with other people while soldering like I do, I would recommend watching the build video 12voltvids put on YT. I found it helpful. Finally, one capacitor wasn't exactly the same as the one listed in the documentation, but it was a perfect substitute and Rob got back to me quickly with all the info I needed to complete this project correctly and with confidence.

The final product is beautiful and I had a great time putting it together. When it's back in stock, I might buy a few more just to have fun putting it together again with friends. Thanks for a wonderful product and experience, Rob!

- Steve

John | May 7, 2018

Affordable and easy build

For MSP430 Nixie Clock kit

My first nixie clock kit. Good price fast shipping. Had question about one component and seller clarified quickly. Kit went together in about 4 hours. I like the tth mounting of the components. Finished the kit, put the case on, and plugged it in. Guess what, fired right up not a problem with the clock. All the settings worked. Best of all 16 yoa daughter said it was awesome!! Thanks for a great product. Only down side is case is extra cost. But with the initial cost of the clock not bad. Maybe include case with the clock and it’s HV hazards. Just my .02. Thanks again. Might be getting another or two to build as gifts.

Alan | March 5, 2018

Simple to Install

For PixelFlood 10W RGB flood light kit (WS2811 pixel)

I bought this to replace one that got wet. But they have been working in my garden for almost two years now. No problems.

Joe | Jan. 30, 2018

Fun Project

For MSP430 Nixie Clock kit

Only good soldering ability and technique required. Download instructions which are above excellent. Watch YouTube video Kit#2 build. Take your time and follow instructions and you’ll have fun. I paid a little extra for the plexiglass covers and hardware. Well worth the$20 and very nice!

Rob | Jan. 24, 2018

awesome very rewarding

For MSP430 Nixie Clock kit

I'm an electrician not a electronics guy and never soldered before but I did it. I'm going to build another for office. I received very good gear advice from Robg

Jeremy | Jan. 6, 2018

Looks and works great!

For MSP430 Nixie Clock kit

This was a great project and was easy to follow and install. It would be nice to have sockets for the nixie-tubes vs individual pins provided in the kit.

A case option to fully protect the 180v would be a welcome addition to the kit.

All in all this is a great product that was shipped quick and produced epic results - the person I made it for absolutely loved it.

Thank you

Donovan | Nov. 5, 2017

Well Made Clock Kit

For MSP430 Nixie Clock kit

The kit had great documentation and I have had no issues with my clock so far. Rob has a good product here and I look forward to see what he will do next.

Arne | Sept. 4, 2017

Great Clock Kit

For MSP430 Nixie Clock kit

I'm an electronic kit hobbyist. I've always loved the look of Nixie Tube Clocks but couldn't find a kit at a reasonable price point until I came across this one. I decided to get it and it is a great little clock kit! The instructions are very clear, well laid out and quite easy to follow with both large pictures and drawings of the area and components you are working on. The circuit board is well laid out and I love the black color on both sides. While I'm not the best with a soldering iron, the component and via layout make my execution of the kit look like it was done professionally. I have only two VERY minor negatives for the kit. The "case" consists of two flat pieces of clear plexi that sandwich the clock with nylon standoffs. It does leave portions of the board carrying 180V somewhat exposed. I would appreciate the availability of a more complete case option. The other negative is the LED back-light. While the blue LEDs look good, an option for a different color would also have been nice. With that being said, this is an excellent and great looking Nixie clock kit at an extremely affordable price. I would highly recommend it and will probably buy more of them in the future. Great job, sir!

Allan | Aug. 24, 2017

Wonderful Kit...

For MSP430 Nixie Clock kit

Kit appears to be very good.... I screwed up on assembly, and damaged the kit... MY FAULT!, you miss on little resistor and poof... I just ordered a second kit to replace it...

The kit is fine, it was just a loose nut behind the soldering iron...

Gary | Aug. 19, 2017

A fun Clock

For MSP430 Nixie Clock kit

This was My first nixie clock build , And it was really fun to assemble and Really cool to watch thanks guys ....

Ryan | Aug. 14, 2017

great kit!

For MSP430 Nixie Clock kit

I ordered this kit with the acrylic case. I built it over the course of a few days - I'm an experienced solderer, but I'm also lazy. It probably took no more than 2 hours total. The documentation was extremely clear - I particularly liked the information about identifying the parts like the diodes and smaller capacitors and I'm sure it'll help increase the confidence of anyone building this kit. The description of the menu/interface is also very well-done, and I sent this part to the recipient (it was a gift). When everything was complete, it worked the first time (nothing I build ever works the first time!) and I never had to contact the seller (the instructions were just that good). The board is laid-out so well, and the case puts it at a nice upward angle for viewing. I left it on for a good day or so to make sure it was keeping good time but also so I could stare at it. Great kit for a great price! The recipient loved it, too.

Dave | Aug. 8, 2017

Best DIY kit I've ever purchased

For MSP430 Nixie Clock kit

Lately I've been on a binge of DIY kits and this one is a clear standout. The Instructions are very clear and step-by-step. The materials are clearly labeled and I had no quality complaints at all. My clock worked the instant I put the power in and I can't stop looking at it.

I had an issue downloading the docs and Rob responded almost immediately on a Saturday, I couldn't be happier with the clock. I see myself definitely ordering another in the near future for a gift.

James | July 12, 2017

What a Beautiful Kit!

For MSP430 Nixie Clock kit

The kit is easy to assemble. The instructions are excellent. Finished kit is an absolute joy and the price is right! These tubes are just the right size. I prefer them to the vertical tubes. If you have any interest in Nixie clocks, grab one of these. Brought it to the office to show it off and folks loved it. Most of them are too young to have encountered tubes at all. Lots of nice features like the cathode anti-poisoning routines and very easy to configure with just two buttons. It is one of the few clocks in my house with a battery backup. Thinking of getting another one to build as a gift and another one to tinker with; replacing the stock blue LEDs with RGB LEDs. From across the room the orange numbers surrounded by the blue glow really looks fantastic as the colors become blended and take on a purple tinge. Stunning! Highly Recommended.

Mark | July 5, 2017

Nice Kit Rob!

For MSP430 Nixie Clock kit

This NIxe tube clock went together with no issues and no missing parts.
The components are packaged and grouped together for each step of assembly.
The instructions show the components in color for easy identification.

Dave | June 10, 2017

Excellent, best Nixie tube clock on the market for the price

For MSP430 Nixie Clock kit

What a wonderful Nixie clock kit.
Purchased this as my second Nixie clock as a youtube project build.
The video documenting where all the parts go can be found on my youtube channel 12voltvids.

Only suggestion I can make is to ship outside the US. There are many buyers outside the US that would want this project. I am in Canada, and had to have it shipped to my US mailing address. I would have gladly paid more to avoid the inconvenience on having to drive down to get it.

Response from RobG | June 10, 2017

Thanks for your review and your video!

BTW, I do ship outside US (only to countries where tracking works,) but due to Tindie's shipping calculator limitations, I have to do it on a per case basis (message me if interested.)

Michael | May 14, 2017

Great beginner's Nixie clock

For MSP430 Nixie Clock kit

I bought this kit because it was the best all-inclusive Nixie clock for the money, and it ended up being an even better value than the price indicates. It is all through-hole soldering, the instructions are easy to follow and have great photos to guide you, and the clock functions are very easy to understand. I have only completed a handful of electronic kits, but this clock was easy for me to assemble. It took me two and a half hours in one sitting, and I didn't run into any unforseen trouble. I had absolutely no negative experiences with this kit.

Luke | April 10, 2017

Absolutely AMAZING service, and a fantastic product.

For MSP430 Nixie Clock kit

I was somewhat of an amateur solderer, and once assembled, my nixies didn't function. In diagnosing the situation, I ended up causing a short, which damaged several components. Rob was *incredibly* helpful in helping me fix the clock -- to the point where I had to physically mail it back to him. He fixed a number of issues, and mailed it back working perfectly!

Rob went above and beyond all expectations to help me end up with a working product. I'll be bookmarking his site, and I'll happily buy any new and interesting products he develops. In a world where the overall quality of customer service seems to be dwindling, Rob has managed to maintain a superior standard of service that is both comforting and refreshing.

Thanks so much, Rob.

Anthony | March 24, 2017

Great kit and great seller

For MSP430 Nixie Clock kit

This kit was amazing. Straight forward instructions and fun to build. Not only that but Rob is an amazing seller who stands by his project. He worked with me via email to help diagnose where I had went wrong in my build. I was able to eventually find my mistake in building this with Rob's help. He did not have to do this but went above and beyond to provide excellent customer service. Now my nixie is working great. Great product and great seller!

Page 1 of 3